Minutes of the April 1879 General Conference

Minutes of the Forty-Ninth Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, convened in the Large Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, April 6-8, 1879. President John Taylor presiding. Apostles present: Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, George Q. Cannon, Brigham Young Jr., Joseph F. Smith, Albert Carrington. Presiding Patriarch: John Smith. Presiding Bishop: Edward Hunter. ¶

Sunday, April 6 Morning Session: President John Taylor spoke (summary only). Elder Erastus Snow delivered [[1879-04-snow-parable-of-the-fig-treethe-rise]] (filed separately), discussing the rise of the Latter-day work since 1827 and priesthood organization from the Church's founding. Elder Charles C. Rich also spoke, on instruction in salvation (summary only). ¶

Sunday, April 6 Afternoon Session: Elder George Q. Cannon delivered [[1879-04-cannon-influence-of-the-latter-day-saintstheir-missionthe]] (filed separately), addressing plural marriage, women's welfare, and religious liberty. ¶

Monday, April 7 Morning Session: A statistical report was given, Elder Franklin D. Richards spoke on apostates leading others away, and missionary calls were read (all summary only). ¶

Monday, April 7 Afternoon Session: The General Authorities of the Church were sustained by vote of the Conference. Elder Lorenzo Snow delivered [[1879-04-snow-blessings-of-the-gospel-only-obtained]] (filed separately), on spiritual perfection and obedience. Elder Albert Carrington spoke on the emigration of the poor, followed by further missionary calls (summary only). ¶

Tuesday, April 8 Morning Session: Missionary calls were read. Elder Brigham Young, Jr. delivered [[1879-04-young-the-growth-of-zionbenefits-of-seeking]], and Elder Joseph F. Smith delivered [[1879-04-smith-duties-of-the-saints-in-temporalitiesimplicit]] (both filed separately). ¶

Tuesday, April 8 Afternoon Session: A tithing report was given. Elder Moses Thatcher delivered [[1879-04-thatcher-manifest-blessings-of-god-to-the]] (filed separately), on divine blessings and youth education. A motion was made to build a house for the President of the Church, and President John Taylor closed the conference with [[1879-04-taylor-opening-of-the-last-dispensationdevelopment-of]] (filed separately). ¶

Notable action: Moses Thatcher unanimously sustained to fill Orson Hyde's vacant apostolic position. Extensive missionary calls to Britain, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, and United States. ¶